Valve construction for containers



March 14, 1933. w. A. ROSELLE r 1,901,413

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 30, 1951 latented Mar. 14,1933 UNI ED s'rATas PATENT OFFICE WALTEB A. BOSELLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOB CONTAINERS Application filed October 80, 1981.Serial No. 572,098.

My invention relates to means for controlling the outlet of collapsibletubes and other containers or receptacles for liquid and plasticmaterials, including paints, tooth pastes, etc., as well as -liqu1ds.'

One object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andreliable valve which can be readily operated.

A special object is to provide a construction adapted to smallcontalners and which can be operated by the fingers of the same handwhich holds the container.

In carrying out the invention, I- provide a valve formed of flexiblematerial mounted 5 in a housing in such a manner that the valve canbeoperated by the thumb or finger. The construction contemplates aninner portion constituting the neck of the container and having a curvedouter end provided with an orifice, a flexible valve strip slidable.over the curved end for opening and closing the orifice and an outerhousing.

In the drawing I have shown several modifications of the construction,the method of operation of which will be understood from the followingspecification.

' Fig. 1 is a plan or end view of a container having one form of myinvention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side view and partial sectlon showing the valve in theclosed SllJIOII:

Fig. 3 is a plan or end view of t 6 interior member or neck.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view'of the neck or end member.-

- Fig. 5 is a detail viewof one form of a flexible sliding valve stripemployed in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another form of device embodying my invention.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same showing the valve inthe closed position and showing in dotted lines a knob in the openposition of the valve.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the valve st ip employed in the form ofdevice shown inFigs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another form of valve strip.

nacious substance.

. valve strip is tion of the valve.

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a valve stri having another form oforifice.

'I he body 15 of the container may be of any type although the inventionis especially applicable to collapsible tubes. This container has aprojecting 'neck portion 16 which may be integral therewith or formedseparately and suitably secured thereto in any suitable manner. Thisneck has a passage through it with an orifice 17 of any desired crosssection. This orifice is controlled by a valve strip 18 formed of anysuitable material which is flexible such for instance as sheet metal,celluloid or other tellt should be understood, however, that the stripmay have some degree of resiliency although this is not essential orpreferred since the operation of the valve does not depend upon a springaction. I have found so-called German silver and soft stainless steel tobe suitable metals from which. to make the valve strip, but do not wishto be limited to these metals. The outer end of the neck is providedwith semicylindrically curved bearing surfaces 19 on opposite sides ofthe orifice 17 for supporting the valve strip adjacent the orifice. Thevalve strip is provided with aprojecting finger piece 20 which may beforme for instance, by drawing a part of the metal of the strip so thatthe finger piece is integral with the strip. The edges of the strip areuided in a suitable manner, as for instance,

y means of the flanges such as 21 on opposite sides.

The outer housing 22 encloses the valve strip and the neck and may besecured to the container or to the neck in any suitable manner, as forinstance, by crimping the lower end oi, the housing as shown at 23. Theouter end of the housing is provided with an outlet opening 24 in linewith the orifice 17. The neck 16 may also have flanges 25 for guidingthe end 26 of the valve stri Iii the form shown in Figs. 2 and 5, theprovided with an orifice 27 which is adapted to be brought into linewith the orifices 17 and 24 in the open posi- It will be seen that inthis case the edges 28 of the valve strip on opposite sides of theopening 27 are sup-v ported on the curved walls 19 so as to give" addedsecurity and tightness to the closure.

It will be understood of course that the inner neck member 16 and thehousing 22 are so constructed with respect to their adjacent surfaces asto leave just enough clearance between them for the movement of thevalve strip. This is to permit operation of the valve and at the sametime provide as tight or close fitting a closure as possible or as maybe considered desirable, having in mind the particular character of thecontents of the receptacle. The housing is provided with a slot 29through which the finger piece extends and 1n which the finger piece maybe guided.

The housing ma also b'e provided with an outlet 30 if desired to permitescape of air or material as the valve is being closed. The housing hasan outwardly flaring base 31 which serves in a measure to guard the tiner piece 20 when the valve is open.

0 open the valve it is simply necessary to pull down on the finger iece20 whereby the valve will slide around the curved end of the neck memberand o n the passage to any desired extent. To 0 ose the valve it issimply necessary to press upwardly on the fin r piece.

n the form of construction shown in Figs.

36 and '7 the inner member is intended to be screwed on to the usualthreaded neck of ,the container and thus constitutes an extension of theneck. 'Gbviousiy the form of 1 construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 mightalso ,sponding to the curved have the neck member screw threaded forengagement with the container. The n per end of the member 35 is rovidedwit an -outlet passage 36. The si es 37-37 are in- ,clined somewhat sothat the base of the closuredevice is wider than the outer end.

The outer end of the neck member is provid- P surface 38 correarin 19 ofFig. 4 for'the support of the flexib e valve strip 89. This valve stripis provided with a finger piece 40 of an suitable. form ,for opcratingthe same. the valve strip and the supporting member and is provided witha slot 43 in which the finger piece 40 may slide.

This valve strip is provided with a transed with a curved bearin .verseorifice 42 adapted tobe brought into line'with the outertend of thepassa e 36. The housing is provided with an ori 0e 45 which 'is normallyclosed. The base of the housing maybe secured to the inner member 35 inany suitable manner. It Wlll be understood that the inner and'outermemhere will be. spaced 3 art just sufiicient to accommodate the ilex'ile sliding valve strip in any suitable manner, as for instance, in thesame way as described with respect to he housing 41 encloses P thedevice of Fi 2, 3 and 4. This form ofconstruction ma es it possible tocontrol a given size of opening with a shorter movement of the valvethan with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, on account of the fact thatthe discharge orifice is transverse to the direction of movement of thestrip instead of longitudinal of the movement of the strip. Obviously,however, the same size opening reqii ires a wider strip when the formshown in igs. 6 to 8 is employed.

It should be understood of course that the shape of the opening in thevalve strip and in the neck and housing may be of any desired crosssection. For instance, in Fig. 10 I have shown a circular" opening 46.Furthermore certain advantages of the invention may be had without anyopening in the valve strip as shown by the strip 47 in Fig. 9. Such astrip may in fact be made considerably shorter than the perfo-' ratestrips, althou h in the case of the unperforated stri t e advanta ofsupport on' opposite si es of the ori ce when the valve 18 open is notattained. 1;

The inner or neck member and the outer housing may be made of metal ormolded composition but should preferabl .be made of or coated withmaterial whic will not rust or be corroded by the contents of thecontainer. The valve strip should also be made of or coated withmaterial which will not corrode under the conditions in which it isused.

The flexible valve strip bein very thin serves to provide a sharp and cean cut-oil so as to-avoid cloggin up the device. It should beunderstood at the outer or discharge orifices such as 24 and 45 may beinitially sealed in any suitable manner so as to 've additionalprotection against'eva ration. For normal use, however, the vs. vs issuflic'iently tight for all practical puroses.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the valve may be 0 ned andclosed y the thumb of one han while holding the container thus greatlyfacilitatin the use of the container whether it be or liquid or aste.When the invention is applied to a collapsible tube it is sim lynecessary to move the valve with the t umb while compressin the tubewith the fingers of the same and. In my former application #558,477filed August 21, 1931, and now matured into Patent No. 1,851,065, I haveshown another form of my invention em- 'bodying the use of twofingerpieces for Other changes in details of construction may 'be'made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A closure device comprising a neck having a cylindrical bearingsurface at its outer end and a discharge passage, a flexible valve stripsupported on said neck and slidable over said surface and rovided with asingle finger piece at one si e of the neck and a housing enclosing saidparts and pro vided with a discharge orifice registering with thedischarge passage in the neck, said neck and housing having guidingmeans for said strip and said housing having means of access to saidfinger piece.

2. A closure device comprising a neck having a semi-cylindrical bearingsurface at its outer end with lateral guide grooves and a dischargepassage at the end, a flexible valve strip supported on said neck andslidable in said grooves and over said surface and provided with anoperating'finger piece at one side and a housing enclosing said valvestrip and provided'with a discharge orifice registering with thedischarge passage in the end of theneckand having means of access to thevalve strip.

3. A closure device comprising .a neck having a' semi-cylindricalbearing surface at its outer end, a discharge passage and inclined sidesleading to said end, a flexible valve strip supported on said neck andslidable over said sides and end surface and provided with a fingerpiece and a housing enclosing said neck and strip, and provided with adischarge orifice registering with the discharge passage in the end ofthe neck and having means of access to the valve strip.

4. A collapsible tube closure having a projecting neck with oppositelydisposed guide walls and a connecting semi-cylindrical bearing end withan outlet, a flexible valve strip supported by and movable on said wallsand end between the guide walls to control said outlet, and a housingenclosing said strip and guiding one surface thereof, said housinghaving means of access to at least one end of said strip to permit actuation thereof, said housing having an outlet registering with the outletin the neck.

5. A collapsible tube closure comprising a member having inclined sidewalls and a connecting semi-cylindrical bearing surface with an outlettherein, a flexible valve strip supported by and movable along saidwalls and surface, and a housing having an orifice registering with saidoutlet and having means of access to the valve strip for actu a ting thesame.

6. A closure device for a container comprising an inner member having alongitudinal passage, oppositely disposed external bearing surfaces anda connecting semi-cylindrical bearing surface at its end, a flexiblevalve strip slidably supported on said surfaces and having an integralprojecting boss constituting a finger piece and a housing enclosing saidstrip and'having a guide slot for said finger piece and having anorifice in line with the passage in the inner member.

7. A closure device having a proj cting neck with oppositely disposedguide walls and a connecting semi-c lindrical bearing end and adischarge ori ce in said end, a

flexible valve strip supported by and movable on said walls and end andhaving a' projecting finger piece, a housing enclosing said strip, saidhousing having means of access to at least one end of said strip topermit actuation thereof and having a base extending beyond the fingerpiece and means 7 on the neck and in the housingfor guiding the flexiblevalve strip, said housing having a' discharge opening registering withthe dinal passage, oppositely disposed external inclined bearingsurfaces and connecting semi-cylindrical bearing surfaces at its end, aflexible valve strip slidably supported on said surfaces and having aprojecting finger piece and a housing enclosing said strip and having aguide slot for said finger piece and having an orifice in line with thepas sage in the inner member.

10. A closure device having a projecting neck with oppositely disposedguide walls and a semi-cylindrical bearing end, a flexible valve stripsupported by and movable on said walls and end, a housing enclosing saidstrip, said neck and said housing having registering passages, saidhousing having means of access to at least one end of sa d strip topermit actuation thereof and having a relief outlet opposite said meansof access.

11. A tube closure comprising a member having a longitudinal passage,inclined side walls and a connecting semi-cylindrical bearing surface, aflexible valve strip supported by and movable along'said walls andsurface, and a housing having an orifice registering with the passage insaid member and having a relief outlet at one side, said housing alsohaving means of access to the valve strip for actuating the same.

12. A clpsure device for a container comprising an! inner member havinga passage, oppositely disposed external bearing surfaces and rasemi-cylindrical bearing surface f with an outlet at its end, a flexiblemetallic valve strip slidably supported on said surfaces and having anintegral projecting boss formed by punchin or drawing the metal andconstituting a nger piece, and a housing enclosing and guiding saidstrip, said housing having a discharge orifice registering with saidoutlet and said housing being provided with means to permit access tothe valve strip for actuating the same,

13. As an article of manufacture, a valve device for a tube closure,formed of a strip of thin, flexible, non-corrodible metal sub-'stantially non-resilient and provided with an integral boss-like fingerpiece near one end drawn from the metal of. the stri WALTER A. ROS E

